La Graciosa also joined the "no to oil" this Saturday. About 200 residents of the eighth Canary Island, which has a population of 600, demonstrated to reject oil explorations, according to the Graciosera Assembly.
Under the slogan "no to oil companies, yes to renewables", the protesters left at 7:00 p.m. from the Inocencia Páez Sociocultural Center, in Caleta de Sebo, and walked along García Escámez, Las Sirenas and Avenida Virgen del Mar streets to end at the pier esplanade.
For an hour, the residents toured this town, in the first official demonstration in the history of La Graciosa, according to the Assembly, which clarifies that in the past there were also protests against the jetties or against the murder of the PP councilor, Miguel Ángel Blanco.
The banner at the head of the demonstration against oil was held by the elders of the island. Young people, families, children and tourists also joined the protest. In addition, the protesters wore their Graciosero hat as a "symbol of the people's union in rejection of oil explorations."
The youth batucada also participated in the protest, dressed as pitch collectors. In addition, they carried a large black canvas as a symbol of an oil spill. Also, some protesters came out with fishing rods and fish and seagulls on the hook painted black.
In the demonstration you could also see a pitch cleaner with a wheelbarrow loaded with chapapote balls collected on the island. The residents shouted several slogans such as "This Reserve is going to shit", "No to pitch, yes to fishing" or "No to oil companies, yes to renewables". In addition, the rest of the citizens were encouraged to join the movement with the cry "Don't look at us, join us".
To end the protest, a manifesto was read where it was expressed that the "island is committed to sustainable development, where the protection of the environment, fishing and tourism are protagonists, and not compatible with oil extraction." To close the event, the poem "My island, my dream", by Inocencia Páez, was read, which reflects the feeling of the Gracioseros for their island.
Some of the participants stated that they had never experienced such a moment in La Graciosa, which is committed to being 100 percent sustainable. The demonstration was carried out without any incident, according to the Graciosera Assembly.